William Lewis, III

William Bill Lewis III, died peacefully in San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday March 21, 2018 at the age of 78. Bill is survived by his daughter Miriam Lewis Raccah, granddaughter Jordan Amanda Raccah of New York City, son and daughter-in-law David and Anne Lewis of Tucson, Arizona, sister Martha and brother-in-law Leonard Gibbons, his nieces Maya and Nikki of Cherry Hill, NJ. Beverly Webster Lewis brought two children to their union William Webster and the late Kimberley Webster. Bill was like a father to them both and a grandfather to their children. He is also survived by his first wife Emelia Martin Lewis of Tucson, Arizona. He is preceded in death by his wife Beverly Webster Lewis of San Antonio, TX. Bill was born on October 3, 1938 in Gary, IN to William Lewis Jr. and Tyna H. Lewis. He graduated from Fisk University in 1960 with a degree in English Literature and Philosophy. He also had a M. Div. from University of Chicago. His career was vast and varied. He served as minister to the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Baraboo Wisconsin in the late 1960s, taught English and Theater at Pima Community College in Tucson, and led the nonprofit Karamu House the oldest African American theater in the early 1980s. In 2002, due to the health of his wife Beverley, he moved to Texas to lead the famed Carver Community Cultural Theatre. In his final act he returned to his love, teaching. Additionally, he taught at Cuyahoga Community College, the University of Akron, University of Texas San Antonio and finally at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio where he taught his last class the day he passed. He was also active in community theater, acting, directing, writing and producing. In the 1970s he cofounded the Ododo Theater in Tucson, and in San Antonio he worked with various small arts organization including producing and directing works he wrote focusing on the African American Arts scene in Texas. The family held a small private Memorial service on Sunday March 25, 2018. A public celebration of his life will be held at The Carver Community Cultural Theatre on June 16, 2018 the time is to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Bronx Charter School for the Arts for Middle School Theater www.bronxarts.net